MURKOWSKI-BREAUX-STEVENS INTRODUCE THE AMERICAN HOMELAND ENERGY SECURITY ACT; AMENDMENT GIVES PRESIDENT POWER TO OPEN ANWR

April 16, 2002

WASHINGTON -- Alaska Sens. Frank Murkowski and Ted Stevens and Sen. John Breaux, D-La., today introduced the American Homeland Energy Security Act of 2002 as an amendment to the Senate energy bill.

The amendment gives the Commander-in-Chief the authority to safely explore for energy resources in a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and includes several provisions designed to ensure the area remains protected. Scientists believe upwards of 16 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil exist in the area.

"America needs American oil from ANWR. Today, almost two-thirds of our oil is imported from overseas -- much of it from the Middle East. With ANWR open, we could cast off Saudi Arabian imports for more than three decades of Iraqi imports for more than a half-century," said Murkowski. "When we don't control our energy supply, someone else does. As long as that continues, we remain vulnerable to the whims of Middle East rulers.

"We need only look back on the past month to understand the extent of the chaos and uncertainty that exists in the Middle East," said Murkowski. "Iraq increased the reward to each Palestinian suicide bombers to $25,000 and imposed a 30-day oil embargo against us. With labor strikes cutting exports from Venezuela and the Iraqi embargo, nearly 30 percent of our imported oil is now in jeopardy.

"Saddam Hussein has called on the Arab world to use oil as a weapon against the United States. Are we going to defend ourselves?" asked Murkowski.

Senator Breaux also expressed support of the ANWR amendment.

"My own state of Louisiana has a 60-year track record of producing oil and gas in ecosystems far more fragile and sensitive than the desolate tundra of the coastal plain of Alaska," said Breaux. "I have visited ANWR in the winter and summer, and I believe limited exploration on the coastal plain is consistent with protecting the environment because modern technology drilling and development are sensitive to both ecology and to local concerns. Energy development has the support of the people of Alaska and can be done, today without damaging Alaska¹s ecosystem."

"Under the plan, the Commander-in-Chief can authorize the safe exploration of ANWR when it¹s determined to be in the interest of our national and economic security. Exploration would only be allowed if a long list of safety and environmental criteria are met. The plan we propose today includes sweeping environmental regulations, giving officials from the president all the way down to the local community, the responsibility to help ensure exploration is done safely. The total surface disturbance will not exceed 2,000 acres, the same size as five small family farms," said Murkowski.

"Oil exploration will only be allowed to proceed with the use of the most advanced, cutting-edge technology the world has to offer and will be limited to the winter months to reduce impact on the environment," said Murkowski. "Also, as they see fit, the Secretary of the Interior and the local community may designate as much as 45,000 acres as closed, special areas," said Murkowski.

"The plan further renews our commitments to our ally Israel, ensuring that, if needed, American oil can help meet the energy needs of the Middle East's only democracy. There are energy solutions within our borders free from the chaos of the Middle East. Now, more than ever, America must use American oil to meet our needs and help free us of our dangerous dependence," said Murkowski.

"If not now, when? If not ANWR, where?" asked Murkowski.

The underlying ANWR amendment contains the following provisions:

It does not open ANWR, but gives the President the ability to open ANWR for exploration, development and production in the coastal plain if such development is in the "national economic and security interests of the United States."

It limits surface disturbance to no more than 2,000 acres.

It designates an additional 1.5 million acres of the southern part of the refuge as formal wilderness, one of the largest increases in wilderness in America since 1980.

It imposes an export ban on all oil from the refuge, except that oil could be exported to Israel, if an embargo requires it.

It extends the U.S./Israel oil supply arrangement through 2014 -- a ten-year extension.

And it imposes the following environmental protections:

-- Imposes seasonal limits to protect denning, migration of wildlife.

-- Requires lessees to reclaim leased land and restore it to the prior condition.

-- Requires the use of "best commercially available technology."

-- Requires use of ice roads, ice pads, and ice airstrips for exploration.

-- Prohibits public use on all pipeline access and service roads.

-- Requires "no significant adverse affect" on fish and wildlife.

-- Requires consolidation of facility siting to reduce impacts on the land.

-- And allows the Secretary of the Interior to close certain special areas of unique character and allows that additional areas may be closed after local community consultation.